View full sizeDick Goddard visits with a frisky pup at the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter in Valley View.Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer

As a second man was charged this week in Lorain County in a brutal and fatal stabbing of a dog, one state legislator met quietly with other lawmakers to build support for making cruelty to pets a felony in Ohio.

Rep. Bill Patmon, of Cleveland, is sponsoring a bill that makes knowingly injuring or killing a companion animal or depriving it of food, water or shelter a fifth-degree felony, punishable by six months to a year in jail.

The bill will officially be known as Dick Goddard's Act, a tribute to the 82-year-old WJW Channel 8 weatherman who has championed pets throughout his career.

Patmon wants to bring Ohio in line with the rest of the country, where cruelty is a felony in 45 states.

Seven felony cruelty bills have died in Columbus largely because of opposition from agricultural lobbyists, Patmon said.

He met Wednesday with Rep. Dave Hall, the Republican chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, to show him the language in the bill that Patmon says should prevent opposition from farmers.

All livestock is specifically excluded from Goddard's Act. It solely applies to "any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept, including a pet store," the bill reads.

Bill PatmonOhio House of Representatives

The bill also retains a misdemeanor provision for negligently killing, causing suffering or failing to provide care. Such negligence would be a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail.

Eisel is due in Lorain Municipal Court at 1 p.m. Monday. He's also charged with resisting arrest, obstructing official business and vandalism, for breaking out a window in the police car. Dog lovers will rally at noon outside the courthouse at 200 W. Erie Avenue.

Gerald Miller, 43, pleaded no contest June 6 to fatally stabbing a shepherd-mix named Maya in Amherst in March. He will be sentenced July 18 in Oberlin Municipal Court.

Lorain County pets: The Grateful Dog Bakery hosts a pack walk and cookout at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Bradley Woods pavilion in North Olmsted for the nine rescue groups and two women who took in the 55 pets formerly housed at Ohio Pet Placement in Sheffield Township. Register for $15 by calling 440-353-1990. OPP, also known as Animal House, was forced to close after township inspectors found feces-filled trash cans and no electricity or running water. Two turtles, 18 cats and 35 dogs were removed May 19 from the shelter on North Ridge Road. Rescuers paid the facility $25 for each cat and $50 for each dog. Friendship Animal Protective League director Greg Willey said most of the animals have medical or psychological problems that require veterinary care and behavioral therapy. Anyone interested in adopting an animal can call 440-322-4321.

Picnic in Brook Park for dogs: A New Leash On Life hosts a picnic from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30, at the Willow Bend picnic area off Valley Parkway between Spafford and Barrett roads in the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation. Admission is $15 for adults, free for children and dogs. Raffle tickets to win a s'more fire pit are $3 each or two for $5. Details: newleashrescue@gmail.com, 440-826-3451.

Breakfast in Aurora for greyhounds:Freedom Greyhound Rescue hosts a pancake breakfast and dog walk from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday at Sunny Lake Park, 885 Mennonite Road. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children 3 to 10.

Neutering kittens, puppies: PetFix Northeast Ohio neuters puppies and kittens up to 6 months old for $20 each through Sunday in Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties. Appointments: petfixnortheastohio.org/schedule.htm, 216-536-0930.

Cat adoption in Elyria: Cats are $10 and kittens are $20 through Sunday at the Friendship Animal Protective League of Lorain County, 8303 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria. Details: friendshipapl.org, 440-322-4321.

Cat adoption in Summit: Cats 6 months to 6 years old are $20, cats older than 6 are $10 and kittens are $30 through Sunday at the Humane Society of Greater Akron, 7996 Darrow Road, Twinsburg. Details: summithumane.org, 330-487-0333.

Rally against kitten shooting in North Ridgeville: Another Justice for the Woodpile 5 rally will begin at 6:45 p.m. Monday at South Central Park, 7565 Avon Belden Road, then move to the City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Details: tinyurl.com/o2ln6so.

An acre for cats: Holy Cat Whiskers, of Madison, seeks to buy an acre of commercial or agricultural land to build a cat shelter. The 13-year-old nonprofit's current shelter on Hubbard Road is collapsing. Call 440-796-8801. Details: holycatwhiskers.com.

Roosters need homes: Township residents are asked to consider adopting a rooster from Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, which is overflowing with birds rescued from cockfighting operations in Cleveland and Ashtabula. The sanctuary in Ravenna took in 37 roosters in March, when Cleveland police raided a West Side home, 19 more from a police raid in early May in Ashtabula County and nearly 80 more from another raid May 16 on Cleveland's West Side. "This problem will continue until Ohio makes cockfighting a felony offense," Happy Trails director Annette Fisher said. Many of the roosters enjoy being held and petted. Learn more at happytrailsfarm.org or call 330-296-5914.

Cat sanctuary broadcasts live: Caroline's Kids Cat Sanctuary in Concord Township is streaming video 24 hours a day, seven days a week on Ustream.com. Follow the daily lives of the cats in the sanctuary's kitchen by clicking on the link at carolines-kids.org.

Cleveland dogs: Vaccinated, neutered dogs are available for $61 at the Cleveland Kennel, 2690 West Seventh St., off Interstate 490, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. See photographs of the temperament-tested dogs at facebook.com/ClevelandCityKennelVolunteers, call 216-664-3069 or email animalcontrolservices@city.cleveland.oh.us. The kennel is nearly full.

Pancakes with penguins: The Akron Zoo hosts its sixth annual Pancakes with the Penguins from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, July 6. Admission is $22 for adults, $19 for children for breakfast, the opportunity to feed the Humboldt penguins and a tour featuring keepers feeding breakfast to the other animals, then visit the rest of the zoo when it opens at 10 a.m. Reservations: akronzoo.org, 330-375-2550 ext. 7231.

Helmets and Hounds: Dogs are welcome at the Cleveland Gladiators' game at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland. Advance tickets bought from the Lake Humane Society are $15 and $5 for dogs. The nonprofit group receives $3 for each adult ticket its sells; groups.theqarena.com/lakehumane, 216-420-2402.

Low-cost neuters in Akron: Cats Having Alterations Professionally hosts a mobile clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 6, at the Nefco Building, 180 East South St. Kittens must be 12 weeks old. Cost is $40 for males, $60 for females. Vaccines, parasite treatments and nail trims available. Register: 330-724-6181.

Run or walk in Bainbridge Township for greyhounds: Freedom Greyhound Rescue hosts its annual 5K Freedom Run and one-mile walk at 9 a.m. Sunday, July 7, at Spring Valley Lake, 8819 North Spring Valley Park Drive. Pre-register for $15: freedomgreyhoundrescue.org.

Golf in Columbia Station for dogs: The second annual Canine Lifeline golf outing begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 13, at Dorlon Golf Club, 18000 Station Road. Tickets are $85 a person for 18 holes, a T-shirt, goody bag, lunch, dinner and door prizes. Nongolfers can come for dinner at 4 p.m. for $30. Register at caninelifeline.org.

Bassets in Berea: Ohio Basset Hound Rescue hosts a pizza party and raffle for basset hounds and their owners from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at the Kiwanis pavilion at Coe Lake Park, behind City Hall. Donations of nonperishable food accepted for the Berea Food Bank. Details: 440-243-4592, ohiobassetrescue.org.

Dog contests in Woodmere: The village hosts Woodmere Wag Tail from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at Village Square Shopping Center for dogs and their owners. Eight rescue groups and more than 30 vendors, free dog treats, dog contests, police dog demonstrations and a dog photographer. Goody bags for the first 100 attendees. Proceeds go to the rescue groups.

Car show in Madison for pets: The Northeast Ohio Dog Club and Frank's Auto Body & Restoration hosts a car, truck and bike show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at 7279 North Ridge Road. Admission is free with a donation of any pet-care item for the shelters in Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake counties. Details: 440-223-9128.

Neuter in Euclid: PetFix Northeast Ohio opens a low-cost clinic in July at 885 East 222nd St. that will allow it to sterilize 17,500 pets a year. The nonprofit group is selling naming rights for the cat and dog cages, where plaques will permanently display the names of $500 donors. Details: petfixnortheastohio.org, 216-732-7040.

Pizza in Oberlin for pets: Dogs are welcome on the patio at Lorenzo's Pizzeria, 52 Main St., between 5 and 11 p.m. every Monday through Aug. 26, and 10 percent of patio proceeds will be donated to Partners With Paws of Lorain County. Details: partnerswithpawslc.com.

Pizza in Port Clinton for pets: Dogs are welcome on the patio at the Pizza Hut at 2680 Ohio 163 between 5 and 8 p.m. every Monday through Aug. 26, and 10 percent of patio proceeds will be donated to Island Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary in Port Clinton. Details: wix.com/islandshas/I, 855-329-5460.

View full sizeThe alpaca on the left at Magical Farms in Litchfield in May 2009 still has its fleece, while the others have been sheared.The farm is the largest owner of huacaya alpacas in the US.Tracy Boulian,The Plain Dealer

Alpaca care: Learn how to take care of alpacas from 2 to 4:30 p.m. any three weekdays through September for $50 at Melody Lane Farm, 5546 Hartneck Road, Valley City. Register by calling 330-460-2274 or 440-570-6292.

Calendars for Lorain County pets: Send a pet photo and $10 before Oct. 5 to Partners With Paws and it will appear in the 2014 Pet Pin-Up calendar. Proceeds go to rescue groups. Details: partnerswithpawslc.com, 440-775-2056.

Farm tours in Ravenna: Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary offers tours every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 26 at 5623 New Milford Road. Admission is $20, free for children 5 and younger, to meet and pet pigs, horses, roosters, goats and hear how they were rescued. Call 330-296-5914 or email info@happytrailsfarm.org.

Salamanders: Ohio State University offers a 22-page booklet, "Getting to Know Salamanders in Ohio," with color photographs to learn how to find and identify Ohio's 24 species of salamanders during "strolls through the woods on cool, rainy days." Details: estore.osu-extension.org, 614-292-1607.

Turtles: The fifth annual Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp contest features turtles. The spotted turtle is a threatened species in Ohio, and the eastern box turtle and Ouchita map turtle are species of concern, a step below threatened. The winning photographer receives $500 for a photo of any native turtle taken in the state before the Aug. 16 deadline. Teen photographers can compete in the youth category. Details: wildohiostamp.com. Bruce DiVaccaro, of Sheffield, won this year's contest with his photo of a black-capped chickadee in his back yard. Stamp sales have raised more than $84,000 to support wildlife diversity through habitat restoration, land purchases, conservation easements, wildlife and habitat research and endangered-species protection.

Labels for pets: Heaven's Homeless Angels in Wickliffe seeks the weight circles from Purina pet food labels to help pay for food and veterinary care for the shelter's elderly or disabled dogs and cats. Mail labels to Box 654, Wickliffe, 44092.

View full sizeResidents of North Collinwood have embraced the trap-neuter-return program being run by volunteers with the Waterloo Alley Cat Project.Waterloo Alley Cat Project

North Collinwood cats: Waterloo Alley Cat Project volunteers vaccinate, neuter and feed feral cats in the Waterloo Road business district in Cleveland's North Collinwood neighborhood. More than 210 cats and kittens have been trapped since November 2009; about 60 are being fed daily. Volunteers and donations are needed. Checks made out to Northeast Shores Development Corp., with WACP in the memo line, can be mailed to Box 19246, Cleveland, 44119. Details: waterlooalleycatproject.org, 216-481-7660.

Low-cost sterilization: Valley Save-A-Pet and 20 veterinarians in Greater Cleveland offer low-cost pet sterilization to low-income owners. More than 1,200 pets were sterilized last year in Greater Cleveland through the Have A Heart program. Call 440-232-CATS (2287) between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays or Fridays.

Neuter in Parma: The Northeast Ohio SPCA offers low-cost pet sterilization by appointment Monday through Friday; $26 for male cats, $45 for females, $55 for small male dogs, $65 for small females. Vaccinations are given between 9 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday, at 9555 Brookpark Road; 216-351-7387, northeastohiospca.org.

Cat sanctuary in Lake: Caroline's Kids Cat Sanctuary in Lake County needs cash to help pay its veterinary bill. Mail a check earmarked for vet bills to Box 24068, Mayfield Heights, 44124, or use PayPal at carolines-kids.org. The sanctuary cares for 270 cats at 7394 Morley Road in Concord Township and is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., or call 440-449-3496 to make arrangements to send a check directly to a veterinary clinic.

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